Background: Colorado is having quarterback problems. Wonder how it would do if it had the nation’s top-rated passer? It could have. Hawaii’s Colt Brennan redshirted in Boulder in 2003. He had walked on after a lightly regarded career at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif., but never threw a pass. He was accused of drunkenly barging into a woman’s dorm room and unlawful sexual contact in January 2004. Then-coach Gary Barnett kicked him off the team. “I would’ve left voluntarily but Barnett wanted to make a statement and kicked me off,” Brennan said Wednesday from Honolulu. “I remember him getting praise. The truth of the matter was, he didn’t know if I was guilty or not guilty.” A jury convicted Brennan of felony burglary and trespassing but acquitted the quarterback of sexual assault and indecent exposure. Prosecution on misdemeanor sexual contact was vacated, meaning the charge has basically been dropped. Brennan served seven days in jail and performed 60 hours of community service; he is serving four years’ probation. He transferred to Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo, Calif. Brennan was named the state’s 2004 JC offensive player of the year and signed with Hawaii.
Stat line: After leading the nation last year with 4,455 yards total offense and 35 touchdown passes, he leads again with 394.8 yards per game, a school-record 39 TD passes as well as passing efficiency at 190.00. He’s fifth on ESPN’s Heisman list and, with four games and the Hawaii Bowl left, has a shot at David Klingler’s NCAA season mark of 55 TD passes set in 1990 at the University of Houston.
What’s up: Brennan gives as much credit to coach June Jones’ run-and-shoot offense, the improved offensive line and receivers as he does his right arm. “This offense is designed for the quarterback to put up a ridiculous amount of numbers,” he said. “If you have a successful offense, the quarterback will be successful.” Plenty of Hawaii quarterbacks have put up big numbers. Timmy Chang set the NCAA Division I-A mark with 17,072 yards from 2001-04 along with 117 TD passes. However, he also threw an NCAA-record 80 interceptions. Brennan has 39 TD passes with six interceptions.
What’s next: Hawaii (7-2, 5-1 WAC) hosts Louisiana Tech (3-6, 1-3) at 10 p.m. MST Saturday.
Henderson’s take: Brennan doesn’t sound bitter about Colorado. While he didn’t use the best judgment during a time when Colorado players were being watched by all, he does feel for the players he left behind as they go through this 1-9 season. “I love Colorado,” Brennan said. “I loved going there and going to school there. It hurts.
A lot of those guys, I’m friends with a lot of them. I want to see them do well. Unfortunately, it’s all put on the kids. It’s not on the school or the community. It’s on the kids.”
